Aggregates market investigation – issues statement

Competition Commission identifies key questions to be examined as part of market investigation

THE Competition Commission has published an issues statement as part of its market investigation into the supply of aggregates, cement and ready-mixed concrete in Great Britain.

The Office of Fair Trading referred the market to the Competition Commission for investigation in January this year.

The Commission is now carrying out its own comprehensive investigations, to see if there are any features of these markets which prevent, restrict or distort competition and, if so, what action might be taken to remedy them.

The issues statement identifies the key questions which the inquiry is examining and its approach to these. Interested parties will be able to focus their submissions and evidence on these key questions.

The Competition Commission stresses that the issues statement itself does not imply that the Inquiry Group has yet identified any competition concerns.

The Commission is required to report by 17 January 2014 and is currently consulting on a draft timetable for the investigation.

The full issues statement and the draft timetable are attached as PDF documents at the foot of this item.

Interested parties are invited to respond to the issues statement in writing by 10 April 2012.

To submit evidence, either email: aggregates@cc.gsi.gov.uk; or write to: Inquiry Manager, Aggregates Market Investigation, Competition Commission, Victoria House, Southampton Row, London WC1B 4AD.